Italy City Hall

The old Farmers State Bank is now City Hall in Italy (pronounced IT-lee), Texas.

Banks used to be such stately buildings.

Pioneer and Farmers National Bank - Hillsboro, Texas

The Pioneer Bank Building was constructed by the Farmers National Bank in 1887 in Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas.  I've been unable to determine why it is called both Pioneer and Farmers.  Only about 12 feet wide on a corner across the square from the historic Hill County Courthouse, it makes up for its lack in width by being a block long!  It has been occupied by Colonial Trust Company since 1981.

First National Bank, Stephenville, Texas

Seventy miles southwest of Fort Worth is the small town of Stephenville.  One of the prominent buildings on the courthouse square is the First National Bank built in 1889 and designed by J. Riely Gordon, a talented architect who designed approximately 18 of Texas' historic courthouses.  The triangular shaped building is constructed of white stone and is presently occupied by a firm of attorneys.

A Texas state historical marker describes the building as follows:  Built in 1889 to house the city's first bank, this is the earliest of three structures on the town square designed by prominent San Antonio architect J. Riely Gordon.  It features elaborate stonework and large arches typical of Romanesque revival architecture and a Queen Anne style tower and pedimented entrance.   The bank, organized by C.J. Shapard and with assets in excess of $158,000 by 1893, merged with Farmers National Bank in 1925 due to depressed oil and cattle prices.

Denton County National Bank

Constructed in 1913

On the courthouse square in Denton, Texas

Farmers National Bank

Stephenville, Texas

1906

Denton County National Bank

Denton, Texas

On my recent three-day road trip through Central Texas I was amazed at the number of old beautiful bank buildings I encountered.  I had seen a few in the past but on this particular trip I became aware of the plethora of these wonderful structures, most of which were built between the late 1880s and the early part of the 20th Century.  So without further ado, I present now, and in the future to come, some of these beauties.

NOTE:  I just finished a relatively new historical book concerning Bonnie and Clyde, Texas' contribution to 1930s gangsters.  I wondered how many of these banks were visited by this pair!